Hitch and tire protector



Nov. 3, 1931. JONES HITCH AND TIRE PROTECTOR Filed Dec. 6, 1929 ATTORNEY WITNEE Patented Nov. 3, 1931 PATE T OFFKIE I MATTHEW T. JONES, OF BLAGKWEIiL, OKLAHOMA HITCH Ann TIRE PROTECTOR Application filed December 6,1929. Serial No. 412,223.

This invention relates to a novel combined hitchand protective'attachment for the rear bumpers of an automobile toconstltute, in

one instance, means to which a traction meme .5 her may be connected for the purpose of towing another vehicle or the like and, 1n another instance, to constitutemeans for protecting any spare tires that may be carried at the back of the automobile and also reen- 1.0 force the bumpers so that, in the event of collision, the spare tire or tires will not .be liable to be damaged, and a maximum reslstance will be offered by the reenforced bumpers, to prevent breakage thereof. 1

'15 Another object of the invention is to provide a devicefor this purpose which may be conveniently applied to the rear bumpers Of any of the ordinary makes of automobiles and adjusted in such a manner as to adapt the device to the bumpers, at the inner sides thereof, and at the. same time vertically adjusted with respect to the bumpers and the spare tire carrier. I

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying-drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention indetail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

-.f.3 Figure 1 is a view in rear elevation of the device embodying the invention mounted upon the rear bumpers of an automobile.

Figure 2 is a top plan 'view of the device so mounted.

Figure 3 is a detail view partlyin elevation and partly in section illustrating the device;

Figure 4 is a perspective view'in detail of a member of the device. 7 f

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates the rear bumpers ,of an automobile, which ,bumpersare. of the usual type and are secured atthe opposite sidesof the rear end of the body of the automobile. In connection with each of-the bumpersthere is provided a supporting arm constituting a part of the present invention, and indicated in general by the numeral 2, and each arm is formed at its forwardend with spaced bolt openings 3through which bolts 4 may be secured for the purpose of securing the arm against the inwardly presentedside of the respective bumper 1, it being observed by reference to Figure 2 of the drawings that the forward portion of each arm is curved to conform to a lateral and rearward curvature of the respective side of the said bumper, and

that the rear portion of each arm, indicated by the numeral 5 extends directly rearwardly, parallel to the line of travel of the automobile and is formed with a series of openings indicated by the numeral 5.

. In connection with the arms 2, above referred to, there is provided a protective and bracing member, of the device, which is indicatedin general by the numeral 6, and

which is preferably of L-iron material and comprises a straight horizontally extending top portion 7 and downwardly right angularly extending side portions S, these latter portions extending between and being supported bythe arms 2, at the rear ends of said arms, bya means and in a manner which will now be described. a

In mountin the member 6 between thef arms 2, there is provided a pair of locking and bracing members, indicated by the numeral 9, and each of thesev members comprises a rectangular body of cast metal provided centrally with an opening 10 and .85

formed in each face with a recess lextending between and parallel to the upper and lower edges of the member, in the instance of one face, and between and parallel to the forward and rear edges of the member, in theinstance of the other face, so that the re- .cesses are disposed "at'right angles to each a other. In; the use of these members .9each member isdisposed, and has its horizontal recesses 11, extending against the rear end .9 of the respective arm 2, at the inner side of said arm, the arm at its end being received within the recess and the corresponding downwardly extending portion 8 of the mem- 0 her Ghas its outer flange disposed in the re- 1.

cess 11 in the other face of the said member '9, and when the parts have been thus a sembled, the members 9 may be adjusted along the arms 2, at the outer ends of said arms, to suitably space the member 6 with respect to the spare tire or tires, and the member 6 may be,.at the same time, vertically adjusted at its side portions 8, in therecesses ll in the opposing sides of the memberwfito assume the desired vertical. position ,withre:

spect to the spare tires, whereupon the bolt 12 is fitted through the opening-JO of each member 9 and that one of the openings 5 in the outer end portion'ofethesrespective arms 2, which is in registration with the openings 10, and likewise throughthat one of aseries of openings 13,- which a-re formed in the rearwardlyextending flange of the member 6, which opening' is 'in'registra-tion withthe opening '10, and ainut '14 is .-app1ied to the bolt and is tightened and it Will n'ow be evident that the members 9 constitute:- a very secure means for connecting the member 6' 1 for adj ustmentwith respect to the arms-2 by which it is supported andthat the said memberti may be adjustednot only forward ly and rearward'ly with respect to 3 the i spare tire Ortires, anddependingupon whether one or morespare tires are mounted upon the rear of the automobile 'body, but may also be adjusted vertically so-as to extend in proper position transversely inthe rear of the tire 01" tires; and" this'member' serves not onlyato prevent impact of-acolliding machine with the tire or tires but also as a means for bracing and strengthening-the bumpers 1', so that there wilh be no likelihood of the leaves of either of'ihe bumpers-"being snapped'in two inthe event of collision:

In order that the memberfir maybe utilized as an attaching member. for a draft" bar" or the like, illustrated inbrokeirlines in'Figure 3 and indicated bythe numeral 15=an opening 16 is formed in the 'h'orizontalfiange 'otth-e portion TOfthe member 6 intermediate the ends of said portionzsothat abolt or other connecting element may-5 be secured through this openinggtoqconnectthe draft member, with the 1nember=6, the 'member15 being of course rearwardly anyrequireddistance and beingconne'cted 'at its re'ar'endin any' suitable mannerto the automobile' or the like to be towed.

lVhat-I'claimis: 1; In an attachmentoftheclassdescribed, "arms 'tor connectionwith the respective adjacent sides oft-herear bumpers ofan automobile,- and a protective and bracing member comprising a horizontal cross piece and depending side members adjustably mounted upon thesaid arms. 7

2. In an attachmentof the class; described, arms for connection with therespective adjacent sidesof the rearsbumpers of anauto-' 5 mobile, andaprotective andbracing member comprising a horizontal cross piece and depending side members adjustably mounted upon the said arms, the mounting means comprising a locking and bracing member having its opposite sides recessed to accommodate, at one side, the rear end of one arm,

andyat its other :side, ,the respective :depending' sid'e member, the said depending side membenand the respective arm having bolt openings therein extending longitudinally thereof; and'ab'o'lt-'secnred through each of saidlockingand bracing, members and interchangeabIy engageable through the bolt openings in'the arnrand depending member. v 3. In anattachment of the class described, arms -i' or connectioas with theresnectivel adj acent sidesof the rear bumpersiotaniautomo bile; and a= protective and. bracing member comprising aihorizontal: cross...-"piece ,and do: pending side membersi* adjustably mounted upomthesaida arms, theiprotectiveaand{brace ing-niember: being ofsLa-iron construction and provided inthe horizontal flange ofritsupper cross piece,i w-ith .an :opening; whereby. a rtowin g-= member: may be connected; with thesaid protective-and: bracing; membera;

' i -Ing combination, a vehicle, supporting means securecli thereto, .impactebarsgsecured to said supporting means,.eachtof' said 1m,

p-act' bars being formed with: aw reversely curved" portionwadjacentiz thecconnection'; of saidfherewith-said;supporting means,.,andia connectingmembershaving:the;ends thereof securedlto'said'supportingemeansand{having curved portions: adj acent its; ends; engaging the 'reversely curved; portions: of." said bars.

5. 1m combination withear vehicle having bumperette supports, a pairs-oi'bumperettes carried byi said i supports, said 2' bumpeiiettes havingk 'curvedi portions: extending: inwardly of: said} supports, and azconnectingrmember 'having curvediportionsengagingtheinward eirtending'curved portions aof said :bump rettes.

' interen-gaging with; thevinwarrlly extending curved portions :ofz said ahumperettesi fl. A bumperette connecting membeboomprising a bar: provided; with: forwardly extending arms, said arlmsjhhninga substantially straight end portions-adapted to be 1 clamped to' the bumperiette supportingmeans and also: having curved fportions adjacent said straight portions: adaptedttos engage curved portions oi thebumperetbes: 1 1

' -A bnmperette "connecting member com-" 5- ln -combinationr a: vehicley bumperette prising a bar provided with forwardly extending arms, said arms having substantially straight end portions adapted. to be clamped to the bumperette supporting means and also having curved portions adjacent said straight portions adapted to engage curved portions of the bumperettes which extend inwardly (if said supporting means.

9. A connecting member for fender guards" comprising a bar provided with forwardly extending arms adapted to be clamped to the guard supports by the same means which secures the guards to said supports and which arms engage the guards rearwardly of the clamping means.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MATTHEW T. JONES. 

